Moscow has acknowledged that its forces had fallen back north of the battlefield city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, in a retreat that the head of Russia’s Wagner private army called a “rout”. The setback for Russia comes after reports of Ukrainian advances around the city and suggests a coordinated push by Kyiv to encircle … Read moreRussian troops ‘fall back to regroup’ north of Ukraine’s Bakhmut
Iran has released two French citizens, Bernard Phelan and Benjamin Briere, from a prison in the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. “We will continue to work towards the return of those of our fellow nationals who are still detained in Iran,” Macron said on Friday on Twitter. Ties between France … Read moreTwo French citizens leave Iran after release from prison: Paris
Turkey’s voters head to the polls on Sunday in an election that will not only determine the country’s domestic policies but could also influence Sweden’s NATO membership. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Finland and Sweden abandoned decades of military neutrality and applied a year ago to join the world’s largest military alliance in an effort to … Read moreWhat Turkey’s elections mean for Sweden’s NATO membership
Russia has denied that Ukrainian forces have made a breakthrough in the bloody battle for the city of Bakhmut while the United Kingdom has become the first country to supply Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles. Ukraine has for months requested long-range missiles from its Western allies but has only received shorter-range weapons as supporters feared … Read moreRussia denies Ukraine push in Bakhmut, UK to send cruise missiles